Interview | Congress MP candidate Gaddam Vamsi Krishna talks jobs creation, transformation of Peddapalli coal mines

Peddapalli: Sustainable solutions and a balance between renewable and thermal energy is the buzzword for the 32-year-old Gaddam Vamsi Krishna, the Congress MP nominee from Peddapalli. This is his first stint in politics and he has been nominated for the post of Member of Parliament from Peddapalli.

Political family

Peddapalli is the political bastion of the Gaddam family.

Vamsi Krishna’s grandfather is the former Union minister Gaddam Venkataswamy; his father is the Congress MLA Dr Gaddam Vivekanand of the Peddapalli Assembly Constituency and now the young Gaddam Vamsi Krishna has plunged into politics.

In an interview with NewsMeter, Vamsi Krishna talks about the need for jobs, the struggle for basic living and the impact of marketed aspirations on people.

NM: Being a technocrat with a background in sustainable solutions, what are your plans for this region if you are elected as an MP?

Vamsi Krishna: There is a lot of talk of renewable energy but it must be understood that thermal energy is also important and is being used worldwide. We need to create a balance between the two. Renewable energy is important and a switch to it is required but it must be in a way, where minimal land is utilised. For example, we can see in urban areas how rooftop solar units are making an impact as they are easy to install and provide sustainable power.

The NTPC plant in Peddapalli has a solar plant for generating electricity but a huge amount of land is blocked for it for the next 25 years. For that reason, an electric revolution has to be looked upon with holistic and compatible solutions. Thermal energy production has to be cleaner and there is also a need to protect jobs in this sector that has evolved over the years. A balance is needed between the energy-producing centres in the country and we have to work towards that.

NM: You come from a family where your grandfather, father and now you are going to represent the region. How are you planning to resolve the long pending problems in the region, especially concerning the number of open-cast mines in Peddapalli?

Vamsi Krishna: I come from a sustainable solutions background but one has to be realistic. The power sector in India is still evolving as there are challenges for which coal is needed. The coal mine base we have in Peddapalli is enough to power the whole country. The reserves that extend from Peddapalli to Vijayawada are enormous and can last India for another few years.

But the issue is how effectively we are utilising the coal from this region. We have sufficient good quality of coal and yet we are insisting on importing it from other countries. We have to develop sustainable good practices to use the thermal plants efficiently. We have to open up and not privatise the coal mines. This region depends on the coal mines for jobs.

This is a big concern as neither is there sufficient enough power generation nor are there jobs. The need of the hour is to strike a balance between the two.

NM: One of the Congress guarantees is jobs and the party is also talking about apprenticeship. Would you prioritise giving jobs to locals?

Vamsi Krishna: We have a dynamic young population but there have been no jobs for the last 10 years. In the Congress manifesto too, it has been clearly said that we are going to identify sectors and accordingly train and upgrade the youth for jobs. For that reason, the Right to Apprenticeship is based on the model of placing youths in sectors where they are skilled.

In Peddapalli our focus will be on the energy sectors in this region. With a backlog of 10 years, it has now become a big challenge to solve.

NM: Peddapalli also faces problems with drinking water and sustainable infrastructure.

Vamsi Krishna: On one side the region is a power generating sector but on the other side there are basic problems which have not been solved. There are no proper roads in the villages, the Swacch Bharat scheme of building toilets is not seen here, and women don’t have toilets in Peddapalli. It is a shame on the BJP and BRS government who have not done anything for this region. These challenges make one want to go back in time and fulfil the basic needs of the people here.

NM: The BJP and BRS have upgraded people’s aspirations. Even as Congress is promising guarantees, people are questioning Congress' ability and intention to fulfil them. These questions were not asked earlier.

Vamsi Krishna: It’s not just the BJP and BRS. These two parties have been at the helm of affairs in the era of social media. Aspirations of people have gone up with the advent of social media. Instead of being responsible governments, they have allowed social media to take over completely. The BJP and BRS have misused it as they have shown aspects and fragments of certain lifetimes where everybody’s life is excellent.

Congress is being more responsible. During a recent rally, Rahul Gandhi asked people if Ambani and Adani’s children are swiping on Instagram reels daily for their livelihood. We have to be more responsible as the governments and the market are showcasing a rosy picture.

NM: In Telangana, there are a lot of problems as the previous BRS government’s policies were found not to be financially stable. There is a course correction required but that is hampering the Congress guarantees. How are you all going to deal with it as a similar situation is being projected at the Central level too?

Vamsi Krishna: The financial situation of the State is really bad now. However, the Congress has implemented five guarantees so far. This has been possible as the party leadership is working on the strengths of the state, identifying them and resolving the problems one by one.

The focus is to optimise our strengths and increase the income flows. The BRS party is making noise for these three months but they fail to understand that they have been ruling for 10 years and have failed to fulfil their promises of jobs, homes and even water. KCR came in his bus yatra and asked where are the jobs, where is the water but failed to understand that we have been here for three months now while they were here for 10 years.

We are doing our best with the given situation of the current state. We are doing it in the right way and we will ensure that the state prospers and the people of the state prosper.

NM: You are a young person in politics and you have taken on the ropes in a short time. Would you be looking at a position in the Centre if Congress forms the government?

Vamsi Krishna: I am from a very humble background and our goal would be to resolve the basic problems of the people. Do good to 10 people and a 100 more and then amplify it; that is my goal.

Watch full interview on YouTube